Nashville has eight prospects competing at the international tournament in Ottawa, representing four different countries.
Nashville has eight prospects competing at the international tournament in Ottawa, representing four different countries.
The 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship kicks off Dec. 26 in Ottawa, and the Nashville Predators will be well represented at the event.
Eight Predators prospects will represent their respective countries in the best-on-best tournament for Under-20 players: two each from the United States and Canada, three from Sweden and one from Czechia.
Below is a summary of the Predators prospects participating in this year's tournament, which concludes Jan. 5 with the gold medal game.
Tanner Molendyk (D, Canada)
Selected by the Predators in the first round (No. 23 overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft, Tanner Molendyk signed his three-year, entry-level contract with Nashville just a week after he was drafted. He has three goals and 17 points in 19 games this season with the WHL's Saskatoon Blades, where he serves as an alternate captain. The blueliner got an extended look at Predators training camp this year before being reassigned to Saskatoon when Nashville unveiled its Opening Night roster, but expect to see Molendyk playing for the AHL's Milwaukee Admirals this spring once the WHL season comes to an end.
Andrew Gibson (D, Canada)
Acquired via trade with the Detroit Red Wings in June, Andrew Gibson has four goals and seven points through 23 games for the OHL's Soo Greyhounds this season. Selected in the second round (No. 42 overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft, Gibson has been skating primarily with Molendyk as his defensive partner during Team Canada practices – continuing a trend that began during Predators development camp in July and potentially foreshadowing a future top defensive pairing on Nashville's blue line.
Teddy Stiga (F, USA)
Selected by Nashville in the second round (No. 55 overall) of the 2024 NHL Draft, Teddy Stiga is a product of the U.S. National Team Development Program. The winger appeared in six games for Team USA at the 2024 IIHF Under-18 Men’s World Championship, helping the U.S. earn silver. He is currently skating in his freshman season at Boston College, where he has four goals and 11 points through 16 games.
Joey Willis (F, USA)
Fresh off a 2023-24 CHL Memorial Cup championship with the OHL's Saginaw Spirit, Joey Willis is experiencing a breakout season with the club as an alternate captain this season. Willis, selected by the Predators in the fourth round (No. 111 overall) of the 2023 NHL Draft, has 34 points (17 goals, 17 assists) through 32 games this season and last month became the first player in Saginaw team history to record five goals in a single game (Nov. 14 vs. Flint). Willis remains unsigned by the Predators, who have until June 1, 2025 to sign him to an entry-level contract before losing exclusive rights.
Felix Nilsson (F, Sweden)
The Predators traded up to select Felix Nilsson at No. 43 overall (originally Detroit's pick) of the 2023 NHL Draft. A strong, two-way center, Nilsson started the season with IK Oskarshamn of HockeyAllsvenskan, the second-highest Swedish league, but he was recalled after a few games by Rögle BK of the SHL due to injuries. He has 12 points (1 goal, 11 assists) through 20 games during a breakout season at the game's highest level in Sweden.
Viggo Gustafsson (D, Sweden)
Selected in the third round (No. 77 overall) of the 2024 NHL Draft, Viggo Gustafsson was the Predators' only defensive pick this past summer. A prototypical stay-at-home defenseman, Gustafsson made his SHL debut this season and is currently on loan to Timrå IK, who are missing some defensemen due to injuries. He has two points (1 goal, 1 assist) through 15 SHL games this season.
David Edstrom (F, Sweden)
Perhaps best known for being part of the return in the trade that sent top goaltending prospect Yaroslav Askarov to the San Jose Sharks in September, David Edstrom is a former first-round pick (No. 32 overall) by the Vegas Golden Knights in the 2023 NHL Draft. Edstrom, who earned silver with Sweden at the 2024 World Junior Championship and 2023 U-18 World Championship, has four goals and 13 points through 22 games with Frölunda HC of the SHL this season.
Jakub Milota (G, Czechia)
Selected by the Predators in the fourth round (No. 99 overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft, goaltender Jakub Milota has 11 wins with a .908 save percentage through 24 games this season for the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles of the QMJHL. Milota was named to the QMJHL All-Rookie Team last season and helped lead Czechia to a silver medal finish at the 2023-24 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
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